Northeast Pennsylvania!

[spiderpig]

Hey, Bethlehem checking in here. Have an inspire 1, but would enjoy meeting more enthusiasts. I'll keep an eye out for your next meet.

Nice. Tony had an inspire 2. Would be awesome to film a race between the two. His inspire 2 beat my Mavic pretty quickly.


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[JGF21]

Inspire 2 is insanely fast. The 1 should be a bit more even.

 

[spiderpig]

I see a race in our future. We can set up other drones to film it. Should be epic.


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[GeneralToner]

Chester Springs here. Always looking for ideas on where to fly.

 

[Anthony Viscomi]

Here's a link to the MeetUp page that a group of us our members of:
Quadcopters Plus

 

[spiderpig]

Yeah the Meetup place is a good start. Anything scheduled there I'll also make sure to post here as well in case people aren't members of that group (even thought it's free)


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[spiderpig]

Found this article. I'm up for visiting all of them when weather gets nicer: https://blog.hivemapper.com/top-10-...ladelphia-east-jersey-308be5797ed3#.77ocz4mq5


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[JGF21]

I see a race in our future. We can set up other drones to film it. Should be epic.

I'll stay out of atti mode, give ya a shot

 

[spiderpig]

I'll stay out of atti mode, give ya a shot

Well I have a Mavic, Tony has the inspire 2. We raced my Mavic vs his Inspire 2 and he kicked my butt. I think acceleration wise they are equal. But once you get over 30 mph, the Mavic takes longer reaching top speed and the Inspire 2 just keeps accelerating. I have a good video with speed overlay I'll upload sometime of the race.


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[Nick Thomas]

Found this article. I'm up for visiting all of them when weather gets nicer: https://blog.hivemapper.com/top-10-...ladelphia-east-jersey-308be5797ed3#.77ocz4mq5


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Is it possible to fly at Franklin Delano Roosevelt Park or Schuylkill Banks Boardwalk or Paine's Park as they are all within 5 miles of PHL?

 

[spiderpig]

Is it possible to fly at Franklin Delano Roosevelt Park or Schuylkill Banks Boardwalk or Paine's Park as they are all within 5 miles of PHL?

Possibly. I know I've seen people flying next to boathouse row. So I think as long as you stay out of the Philly no-fly zone and are below 400, and barring any thing else I would have to look on a sectional map - you might be ok.

Also found this article: The 5 Best Places to Drone in Pennsylvania this Spring

I want to check out that gorge.

 

[Nick Thomas]

Possibly. I know I've seen people flying next to boathouse row. So I think as long as you stay out of the Philly no-fly zone and are below 400, and barring any thing else I would have to look on a sectional map - you might be ok.

Also found this article: The 5 Best Places to Drone in Pennsylvania this Spring

I want to check out that gorge.

I'm a noob to all this, so if I'm asking questions that have already been answered. Looking at the HiveMapper map, the only sites marked are major/large airports. The only other no-fly zones seem to be around national parks (like Independence Hall, etc.). Do we not have to keep away from Helipads as well? The B4UFly app seems to have most of Philadelphia and the surrounding area marked as no-fly. Am I reading something wrong?

...and the Gorge looks a cool place to fly!!

 

[DodgeP]

Just went and signed up on the QCE meetup.

 

[spiderpig]

I'm a noob to all this, so if I'm asking questions that have already been answered. Looking at the HiveMapper map, the only sites marked are major/large airports. The only other no-fly zones seem to be around national parks (like Independence Hall, etc.). Do we not have to keep away from Helipads as well? The B4UFly app seems to have most of Philadelphia and the surrounding area marked as no-fly. Am I reading something wrong?

...and the Gorge looks a cool place to fly!!

Short answer: It's complicated - but trust B4UFly above all other sites, because it's tied into the FAA (and developed by them)

Long Answer: It's super complicated. But essentially you need to trust B4UFly because it has more accurate data and it's in real time. For instance, right now if you want to fly near Philly or in the burbs - you can't. There is a Temporary Flight Restriction (TRF) in place for a VIP movement. So it's always good to check that app and see whats going on. You can even use the planner to plan ahead and see if there are any restrictions for the date and time your flying.

Now if you look at the FAA guidelines they vaguely state "I will not fly near aircraft, especially near airports". Doesn't really give much information or miles. But using the app you know that within five miles of an airport you'll get a warning. Basically if you want to operate within that area, you are responsible for notifying the airport of your location. The app can actually get the data by asking you about height you will fly, time, and something else....can't remember. I'm assuming it sends this data somewhere....but if your going to operate next to an active airport - let them know. I have my UHF radio with me so I can monitor tower frequencies and know when people are taking off and landing.

But to make things more complex, you also have to know that if you fly in Class B or C airspace you need to get ATC permission. Most airports the Class B or C airspace doesn't start at the surface, so staying under 400 should be ok...but again - you need to be aware.

So in short...use B4UFly/

 

[Nick Thomas]

Short answer: It's complicated - but trust B4UFly above all other sites, because it's tied into the FAA (and developed by them)

Long Answer: It's super complicated. But essentially you need to trust B4UFly because it has more accurate data and it's in real time. For instance, right now if you want to fly near Philly or in the burbs - you can't. There is a Temporary Flight Restriction (TRF) in place for a VIP movement. So it's always good to check that app and see whats going on. You can even use the planner to plan ahead and see if there are any restrictions for the date and time your flying.

Now if you look at the FAA guidelines they vaguely state "I will not fly near aircraft, especially near airports". Doesn't really give much information or miles. But using the app you know that within five miles of an airport you'll get a warning. Basically if you want to operate within that area, you are responsible for notifying the airport of your location. The app can actually get the data by asking you about height you will fly, time, and something else....can't remember. I'm assuming it sends this data somewhere....but if your going to operate next to an active airport - let them know. I have my UHF radio with me so I can monitor tower frequencies and know when people are taking off and landing.

But to make things more complex, you also have to know that if you fly in Class B or C airspace you need to get ATC permission. Most airports the Class B or C airspace doesn't start at the surface, so staying under 400 should be ok...but again - you need to be aware.

So in short...use B4UFly/

So I used the B4UFly app, planning for 1/28 at 9am on Boathouse Row. Gives me a long list of airports which are causing a "Warning Action Required" status.

Does this mean I can't fly?


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[spiderpig]

So I used the B4UFly app, planning for 1/28 at 9am on Boathouse Row. Gives me a long list of airports which are causing a "Warning Action Required" status.

Does this mean I can't fly?


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Doesn't mean you can't fly. Most of those are helipads. So if your flying on a Saturday most businesses are closed so you should be ok. I would still use a radio to monitor frequencies. If you want company, I'd love to fly near boathouse row. Haven't been there in quite a long time. Will be a bit cold, but should be fun. Where do you park over there?


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[GeneralToner]

One from Fairmount Park back in 2015 with the Inspire 1. Ended-up being used by Center For Missing and Exploited Children for a 20 year old unsolved murder.

 

[Nick Thomas]

Doesn't mean you can't fly. Most of those are helipads. So if your flying on a Saturday most businesses are closed so you should be ok. I would still use a radio to monitor frequencies. If you want company, I'd love to fly near boathouse row. Haven't been there in quite a long time. Will be a bit cold, but should be fun. Where do you park over there?


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Hadn't checked the weather yet, you're right - does look a bit chilly over the weekend. Hopefully the following weekend will be a bit warmer. Only got my Mavic on Friday, so not had it up yet (very wet weekend in Philly). Would be great to meet up with someone who has more experience. I'll give you a shout if I'm heading over to the Row in the future - to see if you are free to go. Cheers.

 

[spiderpig]

Yeah looks like today and tomorrow might be good flying days this week. Too bad I have to be at work and usually only get about an hour after work of light before sunset. But if you just got it Friday, I would recommend finding a nice open space and just practicing flying with it.

 

[windowguy]

When did you place your order? Still waiting on mine. The wait has definitely hightend my expectations.

I just got my Mavic here in Chester Springs, northern Chester county. Ready for a Poconos fly-in.

Stop by Thermal Sash Windows at Font Rd and Route 100, lets go to Carmines for lunch and talk MavicPro!